All Blacks: Smith delivers stand-out performance as non-stop fullback

Manu Tuilagi of England is caught in a try-saving tackle by All Black Ben Smith at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday night. Photo / Getty Images

Ben Smith can sit on the fence as much as he likes in regard to his positional fate in Hamilton, but the All Black selectors won't.

They will reward him with another run at fullback - regardless of whether Israel Dagg is fit or not. To do anything else would be farcical after Smith delivered what must be the best performance by an All Black fullback since Christian Cullen carved up the Wallabies in the same city in 1997.

Smith doesn't posses the same elusive skills as Cullen but his portfolio is no less effective and his ability to inspire and lift the All Blacks just as sharp. He was assured and decisive in the backfield - factors that must have given his forwards confidence.

He popped up everywhere, beat the first tackle without fail and ran a cracking support line to score the first try. But the moment that sold him to the world as an extraordinary talent came in the last minute of the first half when he managed to claw down the escaping Manu Tuilagi.

He had to make up 10 metres on the England wing and not leave himself vulnerable to being stepped. He also had to nail the tackle - not easy when the target is 112kg - and stop Tuilagi from getting the ball away.

Smith did the lot and then somehow managed to spring to his feet, counter ruck Mike Brown off the ball and launch a counter attack that led to the All Blacks winning a penalty.

It was an incredible passage that enabled the All Blacks to go into half-time 10-6 behind rather than 17-3. It was a momentum-changer - an impossible play that not only saved the day - it gave the All Blacks a depth of belief to trust their skills in the second half.

"I never really knew actually," said Smith as to when he knew he was going to get to Tuilagi. "I think I had a good angle on him. But at that point you are just doing your best to stop a big man like him ... I was lucky enough to trip him up."

There wasn't much luck involved as far as his teammates and coaches were concerned. Smith made it happen because he has become a world class performer: he was superb last year on the wing, but what may become clear by the end of this series is that he can jump to another level again at fullback.

Not that Smith was willing to venture an opinion about his level of desire to have another run at fullback.

"Fullback is a position I prefer. But then again I enjoy my time on the wing it doesn't really worry me."